Rapid revolver loader



Nov. 24, 1970 J. D. FORDHAM ETA!- 3,541,716

RAPID REVOLVER LOADER Filed Jan. 28. 1969 455 A lib/m1 055s FORDHHM a lw/LL/HM LEE PowERs 22 I 5 i Z z RTTOR/UEX United States Patent 01 zfice3,541,716 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,716 RAPID REVOLVER LOADER JohnBoos Fordham, 767 W. 32nd St., Hialeah, Fla.

33516, and William Lee Powers, 1260 NE. 214th St.,

North Miami Beach, Fla. 33162 Filed Jan. 28, 1969, Ser. No. 794,521 Int.Cl. F42b 39/04 U.S. Cl. 4289 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A devicefor the rapid loading of a full complement of cartridges into theloading chambers of the cylinder of a revolver at one time. The deviceincludes a first cylindrical body which provides a plurality ofcartridge receiving chambers which are spaced to register with theloading chambers in the revolver, each chamber of the device beingadapted to receive and temporarily captivate a cartridge therein untilreleased in a loading operation. The device also includes a secondcylindrical body for coaxial reciprocal, telescopic movement in thecartridge receiving chambers to dislodge the full complement ofcartridges at one time by releasing holding means in the chambers and toprovide a substantial, positive, longitudinal movement to all of saidcartridges simultaneously in the cylindrical chambers. The holding meanscomprises a single O-ring set in an annular groove which partially spanseach of the cylindrical chambers to define a pocket to receive theflange portion of a cartridge yieldable so that the cartridge can passthe O-ring in loading the device and in loading a revolver with thedevice by displacement of said O-ring portion radially outwardly.

This invention relates to a rapid loading device for revolvers whereby afull complement of cartridges may be simultaneausly loaded into thecylinder chambers of a revolver in a few seconds of time.

Various devices of this type have been developed with out a greatmeasure of success because it is extremely important that the device befoolproof and positive in its operation because the life of the user maydepend on its operation. As a loading device of this type must bemanually pre-loaded, some type of holding means must be incorporated inits structure to hold the cartridges therein until they are releasedduring the loading or reloading of a revolver. Therefore, a holdingmeans as well as a release means are common to most devices of thisnature; and the release means generally requires the application of amanual force directed axially inwardly or outwardly in some manner. Oneof the factors contributing to the unreliability of devices of this typehas been that the release force, when applied in haste, very often maybe directed off center or in some manner so as to cause one or more ofthe cartridges to become misaligned or cocked in the loading device, andas these loading devices generally depend on the forces of gravity tocarry the cartridges into the revolver cylinder chambers after beingreleased by the loading means, this often results in one or more of thecylinder chambers not receiving a cartridge, because, the moment therelease force is relaxed by the user, the holding means will generallyreengage any cartridges which did not immediately fall into a chamber ofthe revolver cylinder. The instant device overcomes this difficulty byproviding an initial positive, longitudinal movement of the cartridgesas a group. It has been determined that a man experienced with a guncan, with practive, withdraw a rapid loading device of the instantinvention from a cartridge belt or the like and completely load arevolver in a few seconds with assurance that all of the cylinderchambers of the revolver will receive a cartridge.

One of the principal objects of the present invention, therefore, it toprovide means to provide an initial positive longitudinal movement toall of the cartridges therein as a group with the same force which isused to release the cartridges from the holding means. In this manner,all of the cartridges are positively moved substantially beyond theholding means before the force is relaxed and even if the force isapplied off center or in some manner so as to cause one or more of thecartridges to become tilted or cocked, it or they cannot becomere-engaged by the holding means when the force is relaxed, but on thecontrary, are freed by the relaxation of the force and proceed to fallsimultaneously or as a group load into the cylinder chamber or chambers.

Another problem with some devices of this type has been caused by theutilization of resilient washers or the like which require a verysubstantial degree of flexing during operation and, consequently, sufferfrom fatigue very rapidly and become inoperable.

Another object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide acartridge holding means which consists of a single O-ring seated in anannular groove in the outer annular face of a cylindrical body whichincludes a plurality of annularly spaced, parallel cylindrical chambersfor receiving the cartridges. The O-ring is utilized in a manner so asto partially restrict each of the cylindrical chambers, and eachcartridge, when it is inserted into one of said chambers, flange endfirst, must displace or move a portion of the O-ring radially outwardlyas the flange passes thereby. After passage thereof, the O-ringcontracts and engages the somewhat reduced diameter portion of thecartridge behind the flange to provide a holding means for thecartridge. The release force when applied moves the entire complement ofcartridges outwardly past the O-ring holding means, again deflecting ormoving the O-ring portions radially outwardly as the cartridge flangespass thereby, with the same release force being utilized to positivelymove said complement of cartridges a substantial distance beyond theO-ring holding means before being relaxed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single O-ring as aholding means for cartridges which is utilized in a manner so as toprovide a minimal percentage of expansion during the passage thereby ofthe flange portions of cartridges. Quality O-rings generally areextremely long lived when the percentage of expansion is below tenpercent; however, when once expanded over this amount, fatigue sets invery rapidly, but as utilized in the instant invention, the percentageof expansion is very slight and thereby provides a very dependablestructure for constant usage for a long period of time. As an addedprecaution, when the rapid loading device is being used by policemen orthe like, it may be desirable to change the O-ring holding meansperiodically. This can be accomplished at a small cost and without anyspecial tools in a matter of seconds, a small pen knife or the likebeing suflicient as no other parts need be removed to elfect the change.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a fast,accurate revolver loading device as a safety factor so that a revolverin many instances need not be kept loaded when not in use. When the needarises it can be completely loaded in a matter of a few seconds.

In accordance with these and other objects and advantages which willbecome more fully apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will nowbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a revolver with the rapid loading deviceof the instant invention in its operative position;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rapid loading device ofthe present invention illustrating two cartridges in place therein;

FIG. 3 is a rear end view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a front end view thereof with no cartridges in place; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 andlooking in the direction of the arrows;

With reference to the drawings in which like reference numeralsdesignate like or similar parts throughout the various views, thenumeral generally indicates a revolver with the cartridge cylinder 12thereof in an open position and the rapid revolver loading device 14 ofthe present invention in operative engagement therewith. The forward orbullet ends 16 of the cartridges 18 are illus trated projecting intorespective cylinder chambers 20 while the body portion of the cartridges18 are held in position in the rapid loading device 14.

Generally, the rapid loading device 14 of the instant inventioncomprises a first cylindrical body 22 containing a plurality ofannularly spaced, parallel, cylindrical chambers 24, each of whichextends longitudinally therethrough and is adapted to receive acartridge 18 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A second cylindrical body 26 isaxially reciprocally and telescopically held relative to the firstcylindrical body member 22 by a screw means 28 and a compression spring30 interposed between said first and second bodies to normally hold thesecond cylindrical body 26 in the extended position illustrated in FIG.2. When inward forces are applied to the outer end wall 32 of the secondbody 26 as indicated by the arrow 34, the second body is moved inwardlyand each cartridge 18 is moved from a confined position illustrated infull lines to a free position illustrated in broken lines at 36 and willthereafter slide from the cylindrical chamber 24 into a cylinder chamberof the revolver under the forces of gravity when the revolver is slanteddownwardly as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In more detail and with further reference to FIG. 2 as well as to FIG.5, the first cylindrical body 22 is provided with an annular groove 40,inwardly of one end wall 42, which carries a resilient O-ring 44. As theannular groove 40 is deeper than the thickness of the wall portions 46formed by the cylindrical chambers 24, the groove 40 intersects eachchamber 24 forming a through opening 48. As best illustrated in FIG. 5,the O-ring spans each of the openings 48 and, because the O-ring 44 ispreferably snug fitting in the annular groove 40, the portion 49spanning each of the openings 48 becomes substantially straight andforms a partial, yieldable obstruction in its respective cylindricalchamber 24.

The second cylindrical body 26 includes a plurality of foot portions 50extending radially outwardly from its inner wall 52, said foot portionsconforming in number and spacing to the cylindrical chambers 24 and aresized relative thereto to be freely, slidably received therein throughthe end wall 42. In its extended position relative to the firstcylindrical body 22, each foot portion 50 of the second cylindrical bodymember 26 is positioned in a respective cylindrical chamber 24, asillustrated in FIG. 2, with the inner face 60 thereof closely adjacentto a respective O-ring portion 49 to form a pocket 51, to captivate orsnugly hold the flange portion 62 of a cartridge 18. One cartridge isinserted into each cylindrical chamber 24, flange end first, through theend wall 64 which causes the respective O-ring portion 49 to bedeflected radially outwardly as the cartridge flange 62 passes therebyinto abutting engagement with the face 60 of a foot portion 50 at whichtime the O-ring portion 49 contracts to a restricting position in backof the flange 62 to captivate the cartridge 18 in the pocket 51.

With reference to FIG. 2, it is seen that the second cylindrical bodymember includes a central cavity 66 extending inwardly from the end wall52 and the annular wall 68 surrounding the cavity 66 is s otted as atFIGS. 1 and 3. The central cavity 66 is adapted to telescopicallyreceive a central hub portion of the first cylindrical body member 22when the second cylindrical body member is depressed as indicated bythearrow 34 and the slots 70 are adapted to similarly receive the wallportions 72 which separate the cylindrical chambers 24.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the central hub portion 80includes an axial through bore 82 which is provided with a sleeve 84press fitted therein to provide a shoulder or seat 86 for the head 88 ofa screw 90. The screw passes through the sleeve 84 and is threaded intothe second cylindrical body member 26 as at 92. The compression spring30 surrounding the inner portion of the screw 90 and extending betweenthe base 96 of the cavity 66 and a shoulder 98, formed by the outer endof the sleeve 84, maintains the second cylindrical body member in itsextended position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The central hub portion 80 preferably extends beyond the face 64 of thefirst cylindrical body member 22 as at 100 and, in use, bears againstthe propelling mechanism, not shown, of the revolver cylinder. Recesses102 may be provided in the face 60 of each of the foot portions 50 inthe area of the cartridge primers.

In use, a cartridge is inserted into each cylindrical chamber 24 byinserting the flange end 62 through the chamber opening in the face 62and by moving it axially inwardly until the flange 62 abuts the face 60of a foot portion 50. The cartridge will then be held or captivated inthe pocket 51 of the chamber 24 by the O-ring in the manner previouslydescribed. After the rapid loading device has received a full complementof cartridges, they are loaded into the empty cylinder chambers of arevolver in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. The cylinder is moved toits open position and the bullet ends 16 of cartridges 18 are insertedinto the cylinder chambers. An axial force is applied to the end wall 32of the second cylindrical body member 26 as by the thumb 104 to move theplurality of foot portions 50 inwardly telescopically of theirrespective cylindrical chambers 24 to dislodge the flanges of thecartridges 62 from their captivated positions in the pockets 51. It isto be noted particularly that the foot portions 50 also advance thecartridges a substantial distance beyond the O ring sections 49 asindicated by the broken lines in FIG. 2. This has a particular advantageover devices of this type which simply release the cartridges withoutproviding an initial longitudinal movement thereto, because, if thepressure is applied 01f center to the end wall 32 or to correspondingparts of similar devices, one or more cartridges may become tilted orcocked in the chambers and tend to stick therein. In devices of thistype wherein no positive initial movement is provided to the cartridges,the holding means will re-engage the flange when the pressure isreleased; however, in the device of the instant invention, when thepressure is released, any tilted or cocked cartridges are immediatelyfreed and fall by the forces of gravity into the cylinder chambers ofthe revolver because said cartridges have been initially advanced wellbeyond the holding device comprised of the O-ring sections 49.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for the rapid loading of a full complement of cartridges,each having a flanged end, into a revolver having a cylinder withloading chambers, comprising:

(A) a first cylindrical body having a first and a second opposing endwall, an outer cylindrical surface, and a plurality of cylindricalchambers in the body, each having a longitudinal opening extendingthrough said body and both of said end walls with said cylindricalchambers being spaced from one another in a circular pattern, and anannular O-ring seat in the outer cylindrical surface of a depthwiseradius slightly less than the radius of a circle tangent to the out;side radius of the cylindrical chamber pattern;

(B) a resilient O-ring in the seat and including a portion extendinginto each of said cylindrical chambers presenting an obstruction todefine a receiving pocket in each cylindrical chamber near said firstend wall;

(C) a second cylindrical body;

(D) means to interconnect said bodies to permit a fixed range ofcoaxial, reciprocal, telescopic movement of said second cylindrical bodyfrom a normal extended position to a depressed position;

(E) said second cylindrical body including,

(1) outer and inner end walls,

(2) a plurality of foot portions, each extending radially outwardly fromsaid inner wall, of a number and spacing the same as that of thecylindrical chambers of said first cylindrical body and each of saidfoot portions being sized relative to one of said cylindrical chambersto be freely and slidably received therein through the openings in saidfirst end wall,

(F) said means to interconnect said bodies including biasing means tohold said second cylindrical body in said normal extended position witheach of said foot portions positioned in an associated cylindricalchamber adjacent to a restricting portion of said O-ring and defining amovable inner floor for the pocket,

(G) said seated O-ring portion being positioned between said footportion and second end wall and said O-ring being adapted to expand andyield radially outwardly in response to passage by the flanged end of acartridge into the pocket when the cartridge is inserted in saidcylindrical chamber through the opening in said second end wall andmoved axially therethrough into abutting relation with said movablefloor of the foot portion to provide a hooked-up engagement of theflanged end on contraction of said O-ring portion to normal afterpassage of the flanged end,

(H) the second cylindrical body being responsive to axial forces on saidouter end wall to move said second cylindrical body to said depressedposition, to move each of said foot portions axially to dislodge theflange of the cartridge in its associated cylindrical chamber from thepocket and to provide positive movement of the complement of cartridgesas a group outwardly a substantial distance beyond said O-ringrestricting portion to fall clear of said cylindrical chamber by theforce of gravity and into the loading chambers.

2. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 1 in which said firstcylindrical body includes a central through bore including a reduceddiameter portion providing a first shoulder facing said first end walland a second shoulder facing said second end wall.

3. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 2 including a centralcavity extending inwardly from said inner end wall of said secondcylindrical body in axial alignment with said central through bore.

4. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 3 in which said means tointerconnect said bodies includes attachment means having an enlargedhead portion engaged against said second shoulder and a shank portionextending axially through said reduced diameter portion of the centralthrough bore and central cavity with its outer end fixed in the base ofsaid central cavity of the second cylindrical body.

5. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 4 in which said biasingmeans comprises a compression spring, circumposed about the innerportion of the shank of said attachment means, under compression betweensaid first shoulder and said cavity base to maintain said secondcylindrical body in said normal extended position.

6. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 5 including slot meansin the annular cavity wall of said second cylindrical body to co-operatewith said cavity to 6 provide clearance for said reciprocal telescopicmovement thereof relative to said first cylindrical body, said fixedrange of reciprocal telescopic movement being established by the depthof said cavity and slots.

7. A rapid loading device as set forth in claim 1 including a recessextending inwardly from the inner end wall of each of said foot portionsin the area occupied by a cartridge primer when said cartridge is seatedagainst said inner end wall.

8. A device for the rapid loading of a full complement of cartridges,each having a flanged end, into a revolver having a cylinder withloading chambers, comprising:

(A) a first cylindrical body having a first and a second opposing endwall, an outer cylindrical surface, and a plurality of cylindricalchambers in the body, each having a longitudinal opening extendingthrough said body and both of said end Walls with said cylindricalchambers being spaced from one another in a circular pattern, and anannular holding means seat in the outer cylindrical surface of adepthwise radius slightly less than the radius of a circle tangent tothe outside radius of the cylindrical chamber pattern;

(B) a resilient holding means in the seat and including a portionextending into each of said cylindrical chambers presenting anobstruction to define a receiving pocket in each cylindrical chambernear said first end wall;

(C) a second cylindrical body;

(D) means to interconnect said bodies to permit a fixed range ofcoaxial, reciprocal, telescopic movement of said second cylindrical bodyfrom a normal extended position to a depressed position;

(E) said second cylindrical body including,

(1) outer and inner end walls,

(2) a plurality of foot portions, each extending radially outwardly fromsaid inner wall, of a number and spacing the same as that of thecylindrical chambers of said first cylindrical body and each of saidfoot portions sized relative to one of said cylindrical chambers to befreely and slidably received therein through the openings in said firstend wall,

(F) said means to interconnect said bodies including biasing means tohold said second cylindrical body in said normal extended position witheach of said foot portions positioned in an associated cylindricalchamber adjacent to a restricting portion of said holding means anddefining a movable inner floor for the pocket,

(G) said seated holding means portion being positioned between said footportion and second end wall and said holding means being adapted toexpand and yield radially outwardly in response to passage by theflanged end of a cartridge into the pocket when the cartridge isinserted in said cylindrical chamber through the opening in said secondend wall and moved axially therethrough into abutting relation with saidmovable floor of the foot portion to provide a hooked-up engagement ofthe flanged end on contraction of said holding means portion to normalafter passage of the flanged end,

(H) the second cylindrical body being responsive to axial forces on saidouter end wall to move said second cylindrical body to said depressedposition, to move each of said foot portions axially to dislodge theflange of the cartridge in its associated cylindrical chamber from thepocket and to provide positive movement of the complement of cartridgesas a group outwardly a substantial distance beyond said holding meansrestricting portion to fall clear of said cylindrical chamber by theforce of gravity and into the loading chambers.

9. The rapid loading device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said firstcylindrical body includes a central through bore including a reduceddiameter portion providing a first shoulder facing said first end Walland a second shoulder facing said second end wall.

10. The improvement as set forth in claim 8 including a recess extendinginwardly from the inner end wall of each of said foot portions in thearea occupied by a cartridge primer when said cartridge is seatedagainst said inner end wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, PrirnaryExaminer C. T. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner

